Family Optometrists

You might need reading glasses due to a condition called presbyopia. This is a very common condition that affects most people as they age, typically around 40 years old.

Presbyopia happens because the lens inside your eye stiffens and loses its flexibility. This makes it harder for your eye to focus on objects close up, like reading a book or using your phone.

Here are some signs that you might have presbyopia:

• You hold reading materials farther away to see them clearly
• Words appear blurry at close range
• You get headaches when you try to focus on close work

Please don’t.

We don’t believe it’s safe to sleep in contact lenses, even occasionally. Here’s why:

• Increased risk of infection: Sleeping with contacts on reduces oxygen flow to your eyes. A perfect environment where bacteria grow, increasing your risk of eye infections. These infections can be serious and lead to vision problems.

• Discomfort and dryness: Contact lenses can dry out while you sleep, leaving your eyes scratchy and irritating your lenses.

• If you accidentally fall asleep with your contacts in, remove them as soon as you wake up and give your eyes a break. Use fresh disinfecting solution and wear glasses for the day.

A further resource we like: https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/sleeping-with-contacts

There are two main recommendations for when your child should get an eye test:

Early Childhood:

• • Ideally, a child’s first comprehensive eye exam should be between the ages of 6 months and 1 year old [1]. This helps identify any potential problems early on.
  • Another eye exam is recommended around 3 years old [3, 4].

School Age:

• • At least one eye exam is recommended between the ages of 3 and 5 years old [1, 3].
  • Once your child enters school (around 5 or 6 years old), they may have a vision screening at school. This is a basic check and may not be a substitute for a full eye exam [2].
  • Regardless of school screenings, children should have regular eye exams throughout childhood, typically every 1-2 years, until age 18 [1, 3].

Additional factors to consider scheduling an eye exam:

• If you notice any signs of vision problems in your child, such as squinting, holding objects close to their face, one eye pulls in, or having trouble seeing the board in school, schedule an eye exam regardless of their age [2, 3].
• If there’s a family history of childhood eye problems, such as lazy eye or strabismus (crossed eyes), more frequent eye exams may be recommended [3].

Remember: Early detection and treatment of vision problems in children can significantly improve their overall development and learning.

• [1] The American Academy of Ophthalmology 
• [2] The American Optometric Association 
• [3] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
• [4] While not explicitly referenced above, the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends an infant eye exam between 6 months and 1 year.